Expansible securing device for watch-bracelets.



C. L. DEPOLLIER & E. C. DUNCUFF.

EXPANSIBLE SECURING DEVICE FOR WATCH BRACELETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16 I914.

Patented Aug. 31, 19-15.

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CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER, OF NEW YORK, AND EIDW'ARD: C. DUNGUFF, 0F MOUNT" VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TODUBOIS WATGl-L CASECOMPAN'Y,.0FBROOK LYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

EXPANSIBLE SECURING DEVICE FOR WATCH-BRACELETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 19-15..

Application filed March 16, 1914: Serial No. 825,076:

. securely fastening togetherthe two ends of a chain or other article when it is desired to couple the ends together, and is especially designed for use in: securing a watch, locket, or other suitable usefuland ornamental ar ticle to-the' ends. of an eXpansible bracelet.

The main object of this invention is. to provide expansible fastening means. secured at each end. of a bracelet or intermediate the ends. thereof, which may be manipulated with the. greatest of. facility whereby the range in the size of the bracelet/may be varied beyond the limits. of expansion, as. permitted by the well known construction of eXpans-ible bracelet, in order toallow the bracelet to be passed over the hand'and on tothe wrist, and then caused tov assume itsv The foregoing and such other objects as may occur from the ensuing description arev attained by the construction, COI11b1n2ltl0Il,,

arrangement and location of the parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

With reference to the drawings :Figure 1, is a perspective view of an expansion bracelet showing a watch attached to each end thereof by the improved securing means embodying our invention. Fig. 2, is 'a' sidev ew showing a portion of a bracelet with our improved securing means fastened to the links-of the bracelet'intermediate I the" ends thereof. Fig; 3', is a side view of the" securing: means showing" the parts in" their ex-.- panded position. Fig. 4:,- is a sideview showing" the parts their contracted position Fig. 5; is a side view showing the twopar'ts detached. and separated from each" other. Fig. 6, isa perspective view showing the two parts inpartly expanded position. Fig. 7, isa plan view o-fthe two; parts sepae rated fronreach other. Fig. 8, i's-a side view showing one of the parts=witlr the end piece;

separated therefrom Fig. 9, is a sideview showing one ot the parts aft'erthe end piece has been placed thereon, and in its un'-- fi n-ished conditions, Fig. 1-0,- is-a planview of the part shown in Fig. 9 showing one endin its unfinished condition Fig; 11, is an end View o l? the end portion of one of' the 7 parts separated therefrom, and. Fig; 12", is a' longitudinal sectional view through one ofi the parts showing the other part in section; and side elevation, both parts being in partly expandedposition.

Similar characters oi referenceindicate corresponding parts throughout the several figuresot the drawings.- I

The numeral 1 indicates the links ofa'n expansible bracelet, and 2- the watch to which the bracelet is attached at. each end thereof by the securing means hereinafter described. I 3

By reference to the drawings it will be readily perceived that our improved secu ring device" consists of an expansi ble structure: composedof two members or links slidably secured to: each otheigin order that they may" be manipulated into an expanded or contracted position with. great facility.

Qneof the members 3, consistsof an open link separated at its upper and: forwardend? portion at an incline: to the direction of: its

upper: portion being gradual- 1y inclined up wardly and forwardly to former hump'portlon' 6 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The other member or link. 'Ais; composed of two side, piecesS which are merged together at one end and terminate in a stationary hook portion 9, and at the other end are connected by a member 10, which is fixedly secured to said side pieces in any suitable or desirable manner. Each side piece 8 is provided with a longitudinal groove in its inner surface extending substantially throughout its length, having an abutment at its outer end, and adapted to receive the projections 5, thus serving to retain the member 3 in position between said side pieces and acting as a guide whom the parts are given a re ciprocal movement back and forth and into the expanded and contracted position.

It will be seen that the end member 10 is provided with grooves 11 at both its upper and lower portion, said grooves being in alinement with the opening 12 formed in the end member 10, in order that inner link member 3 may slide freely through the grooves in said end member and when the two members 3 and 7 are caused to assume the closed or contracted position, the shouldered portion 13 of the resilient or hump portion of member 3 will spring upward and rest behind the end portion 10 of member 7 the said member or portion 10 serving to cover and close the separated portions of member 3, thus locking the hook portion and preventing the disengagement of any article secured thereto.

- In Fig. 8 the end member 10 is shown before being placed on the side pieces 8, but it will be understood that it is carefully placed on said side pieces so that the grooves 11 (Fig. 11) will be in alinement with the opening 12 between said side pieces as shown in Fig. 10, after which theend member 10 is subjected to the filing and finishing operation to make it assumethe shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It will be understood that our securing means is provided with a hook at each end portion thereof for securing an article thereto, and when the parts are in the expanded or partlyexpanded position any suitable article may be readily attached to or detached from the hookend portion of member 8 by depressing the upper resilient portion, which portion will immediately spring back and close the hook end portion when pressure on the resilient portion is relieved. The stationaryhook will now be open for the -purpose of attaching any suitable article thereto. When the parts are caused to assume the closed or contracted position the end portion 10 of member 7 closes the hook end portion of member 3, while the rear end portion of said member 3 closes the opening to the stationary hook 9, the member 3 being locked in position by thev humps being resiliently held against the. part 10.

By the attachment of our improved expansible securing means to each end of an expansible bracelet it will be seen when in the expanded position to furnish the desired increase in the size of the bracelet to facilitate its being easily passed over the hand in adjusting the bracelet on the wrist and by closing the parts to take up the increase in size so as to hold the watch snugly on the wrist of the wearer.

This invention constitutes an improvement on the securing device set forth in an application filed by us under date of February 10, 1914, hearing Serial No. 817,745.

It will be obvious that slight changes may be resorted to in the precise details of construction herein set forth without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Means for securing a watch to an expansible bracelet at each end thereof, comprising an expansible link structure composed of two members slidably connected to each other, each member having a hook at one end thereof, means forming a part of each of said members for locking the members together when closed, and the inner portion of each member being adapted to close the hook of the other member when the parts are contracted.

2. A device for securing the two ends of an article, consisting of an eXpansible structure composed of two interlinked members slidable in relation to each other, one member being an open link provided witha hook at one end and having a resilient upper portion for opening and closing said hook, the other member consisting of two side pieces terminating in a hook at one end, means forming a portion of each member for locking the members together when closed and the inner portion of each member being adapted to close the hook of the other member when the parts are contracted.

3. A device for securing the two ends of an article, consisting of an expansible structure composed of two interlinked members, each member having a hook at its free end, one member being an open link having a resilient portion for opening and closing the hook thereof, the other member comprising two side pieces connected together at each end thereof, means for slidably connecting the two members, means forming a part of each of said members for locking the members together when closed and the inner portion of each member being adapted to close the hook of the other member when the parts are contracted.

4. A device for securing the two ends of an article, consisting of an eXpansible structure composed of two interlinked members, one member consisting of two side pieces connected and'provided with a hook at one endand connected at the other end by a piece provided with longitudinal grooves adapted to receive the other member, and e to close the hook of the other member when 10 said other member being composed of an the parts are contracted.

open link having a hook at one end and a In testimony whereof We afiix our signaresilient upper portion for opening and clostures in presence of two Witnesses.

' ing the hook thereof, meanswfor slidably 7 CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER. connecting the tWo members, means form- EDVARD C. DUNCUFF. ing 2L portion of each member for locking Witnesses: the members together when closed and the GEORGE FIESELER, inner portion of each member being adapted JAMES R. BARRELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

